UPS is subcontracting to various delivery entities because their unionized delivery workforce is too expensive, and other delivery alternatives are becoming available.

Be advised that UPS, when loading items on their vehicles, scans "Delivered" when it is to a delivery entity.  DOES NOT mean delivered to the end destination, but UPS deliberately shades things a bit, and the final/end delivery entity/person is forced to explain the discrepancy to a disappointed/misled end user.   Sweet deal.  UPS claims things are going well, and blames it on the fall guy/final delivery guy.

The first time I ever heard of it, I had a package shipped to me via that method, it sat in a processing center in Illinois (I think) for 2 FARKING WEEKS!  It sat in one spot, not moving, for 2 weeks before they got around to mailing it, why the HELL couldn't the shipper just mailed it to me, I would have had it in 2-3 days instead of 2 1/2 weeks, since UPS ends up mailing it, it couldn't save that much, I know the Post Office has a better rate for pre sorted mail, one of my customers a few years ago was a mass mailing pre sort facility, they picked up the envelopes from the customer, sorted them, then took them to the Post Office already sorted to get the special pre sort rate, it was maybe a couple of cents cheaper per envelope, but it seems to work out for mass mailers.



But this UPS mail innovations is retarded!  The current thing they seem to be doing, this might be a different service, UPS ships it to their local facility, which is 4-5 blocks from my house, and then mails it, I wish they would just call me, I'd come and get it the same day!

Realize that a lot of the "faster mode" of shipping is done, at least partially, by air, and a lot of things, storms being only one, can mess up the air delivery system.

A lot of mis-deliveries, or re-routings are due to the customer supplying confusing/easily misread info.  For example, I ordered some stuff to be delivered at my home, but it wound up at the PO box.  I suspect it was the vendor's fault, but no way of confirming such.  A lot of problems are caused when the recipient's billing address is different from their shipping address.  I always look twice at these things when ordering on the interweb, and as a result things seldom (knock on wood) go awry for me.

My advice for most folks ordering stuff, either by mail or the internet is the following:

1) If your delivery address is different from the billing address on your credit card, make SURE that the vendor understands this, and ships the item to the correct address.

2) Print legibly.  Assume an idiot with bad eyesight will be reading your input, and will make mistakes.  Mak dead CERTAIN that the vendor has your CORRECT cc info.  Lots of mistakes happen at this point.

3)  Read the confirmation receipt as soon as you receive it via e-mail, and call/e-mail the vendor IMMEDIATELY to correct any problems prior to shipping.

4) Most vendors, on the phone,  will repeat back to you important info, such as address, zip code, and cc number, if ordering by phone.  PAY ATTENTION, and correct mistakes.

5) Understand that tracking can be a game, and is not to be entirely trusted.

6) Understand that various circumstances beyond the vendor/shipper's control can delay things.

7) Have your last name on your mailbox, because the new USPS employee who is panicked for time needs to see it.

8) Re-read above.  Lots of new USPS mail-carriers who are sub-normal, and are paid so.

Smartpost and Mail Innovations are the worst thing that anyone has come up with.

It takes the worst attributes of the UPS, FedEx and the USPS and allows them to completely fuck up delivering a package.

It's a cheap and ineffective way for places like Amazon to ship, but the end result is your package's delivery time is actually slower than had it been handled directly by the big 3.

On average, Smartpost and Mail Innovations take one to 2 days longer to arrive. If the tacking shows that the package has been handed off the USPS for final delivery, it likely that it's still in the hands of either UPS or FedEx.

I have had an on going argument with Amazon for 2 years for this. I would like to see places that use Smartpost or Mail Innovations, like Amazon, to give the buyer an option not to chose it.


In short, Mail Innovations and Smartpost can go suck a bag of aids infected dicks.

Well, the co-operation of USPS, FedEx, UPS, and other service providers, allows everyone to game the tracking system, and blame someone else.